A Visit to Seneca, Oregon

Last weekend, my mom, my triplet six year olds, and I headed out to Eastern Oregon to visit my friend Teresa's ranch and go to the Prairie City Fiber Festival. Despite some very hot weather, a good time was had by all!

My friend Teresa and her husband own a historic cattle ranch located in a high mountain valley near Seneca, Oregon. Teresa also owns a flock of sheep (pictured here), mostly Blue Faced Leicester crosses (with Border Leicester, and most recently, Gotland). Her sheep grow some absolutely beautiful wool!

I first met Teresa at the first Prairie City Fiber Festival in 2019. I was a newbie spinner, and intimidated by the idea of buying (another!) whole raw fleece when I hadn't finished washing the first one. There was regret, though. Major regret. I couldn't stop thinking about how great her wool was! When I ran into her again at that year's Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival, I didn't hesitate - I bought a perfect white half-fleece.

Fast forward two years, and the 2021 Prairie City Fiber Festival gave me the opportunity to add multiple fleeces to the Wool Spin Ewe LLC inventory. They have been a consistent good seller!

This year, 2022, we visited Teresa at the ranch, met the sheep, loved on Lenny the Maremma, and five bags of fleece came home with me. Visiting farms, talking to the shepherds, and meeting the sheep is by far my favorite part of being in the wool business.

The climate and landscape of Eastern Oregon isn't for the faint of heart (it's rugged country) but I love it.